Ask the experts: What's the latest in digital signage displays?

What's the latest in digital signage displays?

We asked a few digital signage display experts for their take on what's new in display technology. "What," we asked them, "is the newest tech changing the face of digital signage displays?" or "What makes the digital signage displays of today stand out from those of even a year or so ago?"

Here's what they had to say:

Steve Acquista, CTS, DSCE, senior business development manager of digital signage, BenQ Corp.:

I remember years ago talking with department store executives about the idea of replacing all their traditional static signs with dynamic digital signage displays. How their investment would end up saving them money and be more effective at communicating with their customers. A lot has happened in the world of digital signage since then. Digital signage displays have gotten smarter, lighter, more energy efficient and thinner than ever before. But what really stands out today is the advent of the dual-sided LED displays that fits into the same frame footprint as a single display. This is achieved by bonding two individual 1920 x1080 LED substrates and backlights together and putting the control electronics and power module into a different part of the frame assembly. This revolutionary approach baffles viewers as they walk by what appears to be a traditional single-sided kiosk and then seeing an image appear on the other side running the same or different content.

Brent Sanders, product manager - flat panel displays, Panasonic System Communications Co. North America:

We are seeing increased interest in larger, more dynamic and vivid displays.  Displays in the 80- to 100-inch range make a huge impact, enabling life-size retail signage. Beyond sheer scale, large-format displays with 4K resolution draw the consumer into the content for optimum customer engagement. Additionally, because the public has come to expect some level of interactivity thanks to the proliferation of tablets and smartphones, we are seeing an increase in demand for interactive display features. From interactive mirrors, wayfinding, multiple points of interaction on large-format displays and video walls, interactivity provides advertisers an additional way to engage with customers and provide more customized messages. Embedded media player adoption is also growing. These embedded solutions offer fewer wires and more connectivity and content management options. Look for these solutions to be expanded through more robust platforms embedded in the display.

Beyond flat panel displays, projection mapping brings impactful digital signage to larger canvases, including sports arenas and buildings, where displays could be limited by size or application. These solutions are now being scaled down to turn virtually any object into a projection mapping surface, including automobiles, clothing, shoes and more. Small-scale projection mapping delivers the same big impression and installation flexibility in a much smaller space at a more cost effective price.

Keith Yanke, senior director of product marketing for large-screen displays and projectors, NEC Display Solutions:

Touch is immensely popular across all verticals and all markets right now. It is no longer relegated to a small space, like a mobile phone, personal computer or an ATM. Touch-enabled digital signage screens and kiosks allow for interactivity and for the consumer to build a stronger relationship with the brand. Consumers are able to interact on their own time and in their own way, which is exactly what interactive signage delivers. This type of interaction is vastly more popular than what we saw a year ago.

Another new trend is the use of projectors in digital signage. Traditionally we do not think of projectors when it comes to digital signage, but they're being increasingly deployed for all kinds of applications. For example, one retailer has been projecting footwear items onto a surface, and when a shopper removes a shoe from its location, the system runs an advertisement on that shoe. Plus, new, solid-state projectors require little to no maintenance and boast an average runtime of 20,000 hours. Consumers and corporations will be pleasantly surprised with what they see as the use of projectors becomes more advanced.

(Cover image courtesy of hyena reality at FreeDigitalPhotos.net.)